Vending apparatus.



Patented Aug. 29, 1899. H. S. WURTHINGTUN.

VENDING APPARATUS.

(Application med Mar. s. 1899.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY SLACK WORTHINGTON, OF NEY YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF TiVO- FIFTHS TO JOHN L. STEPHENS AND CHARLES H. FISK, OF COVINGTON,

. KENTUCKY.

VENDING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,080, dated August 29, 1899.

Application filed March 8, 1899. Serial No. 708,189i (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Beit known that l, HENRY SLAOK WORTH- INGTON, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a vending-machine which is especially adapted to the delivery of newspapers, periodicals, dto., by depositinga coin in the chute, which releases a lock and allows a given article to be taken bythe purchaser.

The features of my invention will be more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichh Figure 1 is a front elevation of the top portion of the vending-machine. Fig. 2 is a section on line z z, Fig. l. Fig. Sis asection on line or, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation on line w w, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the spring-catch. Fig. 6 is 'a front elevation of a modification of the supporting-bars.

A represents the body of the receptacle, which may be made of metal or any other suitable material. The top portion of the boX is open.

B represents a series of bars in tiers, as shown. Upon these bars are deposited the article to be vended. C represents, say, a newspaper in position as loaded for delivery. I have shown three bars thus equipped. The bars B are provided with an offset c, preferably near the center, so that the purchaser may readily grasp and remove the article.

D represents a locking-arm which is adapted to be brought down upon the paper and hold it firmly in position on its bar.

I have provided an apparatus which is coincontrolled to release the lock to allow an individual arm to be raised and the paper removed when the coinl has been deposited in the appropriate slot for such delivery. The apparatus for accomplishing this result is constructed as follows:

The arms D are each hinged opposite an appropriate coin-chute, the inner end d of the arm occupying a portion of said chute.

E representsa eoil-sprin g, one limb of which rests against the side wall of the chute and the opposite end or limb presses upon the inner end of the bar. The tension of the spring tends to hold the bar in a vertical position. (Shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3.) The arm D is held in a horizonal position' by means of the catch f on the spring-arm F.

G represents a slot in the top of the coin E retracts this arm, which moves in the path shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, thus releasing its clamp upon the paper extended on the bar B, which paper may then be removed by the purchaser.

I provide the arm D with a lug a, which may be of the form shown in either Fig. l or 3, so as to partially close the slot` Gr, which will prevent a coin from being introduced into a chute when itsu corresponding bar is not equipped witha paper and secured by the arm D. This prevents the purchasers from depositing a coin in the chute which will not prepay the delivery of the desired object to be purchased.

e represents a pin or pins on the top of the bar B in Figs. l and 6, upon which swinging lock-arm D rests, pressing the points into the paper, thus holdingit firmly in position. The under sides of arms D may be provided with recesses for the pin or pins of bars B to enter, if desired. 4

It is sometimes desirable to equip one of these vending-machines, say, with newspa.- pers which sell for dierent prices, and I have provided means for vending articles of a lesser f value by one and the same apparatus. Sup- TOO pose the machine to be adj usted to have the holding-arm` released by the dropping of Va nickel in the slot, but the paper to be delivered is to be sold for two cents. On the f ront side of the bar B, I provide a pocket M, which is open at one side, as shown in Fig. 6. Three cents are placed in this pocket, which are covered by the paper. When the operator has deposited a nickel and removed the paper, uncovering the pocket, this allows him to take the proper change. Suppose the paper sells for three cents. OE course two cents are placed in the pocket, which may be of the form shown in Fig. l.

Various changes of detail of 'construction of course can be made without departing from the features of my invention.

A represents a space for the name of the paper, directions for operating, &c.

In the modification Fig. 6 a fiat bar B is shown instead of the round bar of Figs. l and 2.

I also provide for attaching coin-chutes, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4t, on both sides of the box A, Fig. l, so as to receive coins of different denominations-say tive cents and one centin the same box, thus enabling me to sell papers of different prices by the use of one box. A cap or covering may be provided to cover one of these coin-chutes, so that the operatorcannot use it.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In avending apparatus, the combination of a frame, one or more supporting-bars located therein, adapted to support the article on sale, a locking-arm pivoted above and at one end of each supporting-bar and having an extension inward of the pivot, a spring engaging said extension and exerting normally a downward pressure thereon, a spring-catch device adapted .to automatically engage and hold said arm in its extended position, a coinchute and a plunger-rod adapted to release said springcatch device when a coin is in position, substantially as specified.

2. In a vending apparatus, the combination of a frame, one or more supporting-bars located therein, a coin-,chute compartment at one side of each bar, a locking-arm pivoted above and at one end of each bar, and extending beyond the pivot into the coin-chute compartment, a spring located in each compartment engaging the inner endet each locking-arm and forcing said arm normally up- Ward, a catch device located in each compartment adapted to automatically engage the said inner end of the locking-arm when the arm is in extended position and hold it down, a coin-chute and plunger in each compartment adapted to release said catch device when a coin is in position, substantially as specified.

3. In a vending apparatus the combination of a frame, one or more supporting-bars located therein each having a depression leaving unsupported a portion of the article on sale, a coin-chute compartment located at one end of each supporting-hama locking-arm pivoted over and at one end of each supporting-bar and-having an extension projected beyond the pivot into its respective coinchute compartment, a spring located in each compartment engaging the end of the lockingarm extended therein and forcing the outer end of the arm normally upward, a springcatch located in each compartment adapted to automatically engage the inner end of its respective locking-arm to hold the outer end of the arm down, a plunger and a coin-chute in each compartment terminating between the plunger and spring-catch, substantially as specified. i i

4. In a vending apparatus the combination of a frame, one or more supporting-bars located therein, a coin-chute compartment at one end of each bar, a locking-arm pivoted over and at one end of each supporting-.bar having an extension beyond the pivot lying within its respective compartment, a spring located in each compartment adapted to engage said inner end and force the outer end normally upward, a spring-catch device in each compartment adapted to engage theinner end of its respective locking-arm to hold the arm extended in locking position, a plunger and a coinchute terminating between the plunger and spring-catch in each compartment, substantially as specified.

'5. In a vending apparatus containing a series of supportingbars arranged in tiers over which are serially folded the article to be vended, a series of holding-arms each provided with an inward extension beyond its pivot, a series of spring-catches Vadapted to automatically engage and lock its respective arm upon the supporting-bar, a seriesof coinchutes each arranged in juxtaposition to its arm and spring-catch for bringing the coin into engagement with said catch and tripping devices adapted to be 'serially operated and force the coin and trip the, catch whereby the locking-arms are automatically moved out of engagement with the article to be vended, substantially as specied.

6. In combination with a support on which a vended article is supported, a coin-pocket attached thereto, adapted to hold one or more coins which are covered by the articleto be vended and exposed when said articles are removed, substantially as specified.

7. In a vending apparatus, the combination of a coin-chute, a supporting-bar over which the article to be vended is folded, a springcontrolled locking-arm held normally in a folded position and provided with anextension projected into the said chute, a springcatch placed on one side of the coin-chute and adapted to automaticallyengage and lock the spring arm down upon the article to be vended, a tripping'device adapted to engage with a coin and trip the spring-catch and a IOO IIO

lug for obstructing the mouth of the coinchute when the folding arm is in a folded position, substantially as specified.

8. In a vending apparatus, the combination of aframe, a series of supporting-bars located therein and arranged in tiers each succeeding bar being behind and above the preceding one, a locking-arm pivoted above and at one end of each of said supporting-bars each having` an inward extension beyond its pivot,a spring engaging said extension and exerting a pressure to hold said bars upright, a spring-catch device for each of said arms adapted to automatically engage and hold its respective 

